Neighbors call it Bell Aire Park, a home away from home for Markham residents who say they remember it for what it was, not what it became: a poster child for disrepair, where jagged equipment sent children home with cuts as often as smiles.
“It was an embarrassment,” said Mayor David Webb Jr. “It had gotten to the point where you didn’t want to show it to people.”
The official name is Dresser Park, a playground that has been slowly decaying on the city’s north side for 35 years. Park District officials looked at new equipment about 10 years ago, but the $65,000 price tag was too costly for the working-class town, said Anne Brady, executive director of Home Community Services in Markham.
In January 2004, the largely African-American city sent out feelers to see if anyone could help. In May, a team of unlikely suitors responded: KaBOOM!, Home Depot and NASCAR.
“When I was told who our corporate sponsor was, I was surprised,” Brady said. “I don’t know anything about racecars, but if they want to build a playground that’s fine with me.”
Markham was selected from about a dozen cities for Home Depot’s Racing to Play program, an initiative aimed at making a lasting impression among at-risk youth in NASCAR race communities. The program is a collaborative effort with the Joe Gibbs Racing Team and KaBOOM!, a non-profit organization, that aims to build playgrounds within walking distance of every child in America.
The city was picked based on its financial need, proximity to Joliet, the site of Saturday’s USG 300 race, and ability to raise money. The city found out it was selected in May and raised $10,000 for equipment. The three groups will contribute the remaining $55,000.
“We’re not trying to make Markham residents into big race fans,” said Eric Oberman, Home Depot spokesman. “Instead of doing something that lasted just a weekend, we wanted to leave something that lasted all year.”
The Racing to Play team had been working with about 60 local children for months on ideas for the playground.
On Thursday, nearly 200 volunteers and NASCAR drivers J.J. Yeley and Aric Almirola put together a 2,800-square-foot playground in Dresser Park. Equipment includes a triple slide, seesaw, lookout tower, rock tower, planters and benches. A basketball court is also being repaved, said Darrell Hammond, CEO of KaBOOM! The playground will have a NASCAR motif with drawings of racecars.
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lholt@tribune.com
